Departure of Ice

15.4 - 15.5

With the increasing amount of light, nature is revived to face a new period of growth. April and May are months for revival. There is still snow on the ground, but there are also days when the first plants begin to appear, and reindeer give birth to their calves. During the spring, and ice break-up, the first boats are launched into lakes and rivers, and the appearance of the first stoneflies is an inspiration for many fishermen. With a fishing tradition dating back thousands of years, people’s attention concentrates on the Kemi and Ounas rivers. Even today, the movement of the waters fascinates people, and every year a competition is organised to guess the date when the ice will break up. The stream no longer provides a daily livelihood for the people on the riverbanks, but it still gives rhythm to our lives.